Fret wire bending jig - UPDATED

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JazzthatJazzthat Frets: 163
edited February 2021 in Making & Modding
Looking for some help with the build

First of all there are few different designs out there available . As far as I can see the major difference in between them is , that you can easily or easier adjust the radius needed .

Apart from that , there will be for sure better fittings ( tolerances etc ) and materials , parts used for it.

Anyway ,  I am seriously considering making one that is of a quality and would work perfectly without already known flows. 

At this stage I want to gather some more information , especially from you guys that use them often to pinpoint the weak areas ( If there are any that is ) and maybe fix it in my build . 
Having look at the most desired ( so it seems ) stewmac bender , that model ticks most of the boxes .
But ... apparently some people are saying that the bottom 2 bearings are too far apart causing too much of a wire waste ( not being bent to set radius ).
If that the case , then what distance in between bearings would work best ?

Other question I have is to what diameter the big wheel is and particularly I'd like to know what witdh and depth the slot is that fret wire goes in . 
Any suggestions for the build are welcomed too as well

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Comments

  • I am currently in the design and getting few parts process :)
    I would really appreciate if someone could share dimensions for groove in the big wheel .
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  • PeteCPeteC Frets: 409
    Hi there  

    I have the Elmer bender and the groove width is about 1.13mm according to my digital callipers.  Depth is 2.21mm. 

    hope that helps !

    cheers

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  • PeteCPeteC Frets: 409
    PS -  the centres for the two lower bearing wheels are spaced 18.8mm apart on mine. 
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  • SteveRobinsonSteveRobinson Frets: 6914
    tFB Trader
    I've got the older Stewmac one.

    Top wheel is 31.5mm diameter and the groove is 2mm deep by 1mm wide.

    Lower bearings are 19mm diameter. LHS is 31mm from the large wheel centre to centre, RHS can be varied from 31 to 29mm away to adjust the curve.
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  • JazzthatJazzthat Frets: 163
    edited September 2020
    Thanks gents! Much appreciated it . I had an idea it would be around 1mm wide but not a clue about depth . 
    That helps a lot .
    As for spacing I have gone for 40mm in between bottom bearings and top wheel will be around 34mm . 
    We will see if that is going to work nicely or not . 
    It probably won't be built till next month . I'll update the thread though if I have something to show :)

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  • PeteCPeteC Frets: 409
    edited September 2020
    On the Elmer the top wheel is 40mm diam. The bearings are 19mm standard bearings  - like the StewMac
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  • I have set it up with 22mm bottom and 34mm big wheel . Theoretically it should work fine . 
    The bigger the wheel the faster a wire would feed through , so 34mm shouldn't be the slowest out there :)
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  • TTonyTTony Frets: 27346
    Jazzthat said:

    Any suggestions for the build are welcomed too as well

    Don't forget a nice, easy to hold, handle.

    You might get all the bearings perfectly sized & spaced, but if it's a pain (in the hand) to operate, people won't be so keen to use it,
    Having trouble posting images here?  This might help.
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  • TTony said:
    Jazzthat said:

    Any suggestions for the build are welcomed too as well

    Don't forget a nice, easy to hold, handle.

    You might get all the bearings perfectly sized & spaced, but if it's a pain (in the hand) to operate, people won't be so keen to use it,
    Good point @TTony ; . I was actually searching for one to get for ages and I don't see anything interesting out there. 
    What do you think a good handle should be like , short , long ,chunky etc ?
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  • TTonyTTony Frets: 27346
    The handle needs a decent amount of leverage - it can be hard to get a piece of wire moving through the jig, and moving smoothly.

    Ridiculously, when I made my own home-made bender, finding a decent handle was more of a challenge than anything else!

    You need something that's long enough to grip (100mm min?), chunky enough so that a man's (no sexism intended!) hand can hold it  comfortably.  And something detachable so that the jig can be stored more easily, and you can sell replacements when we lose them.
    ;)
    Having trouble posting images here?  This might help.
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  • That is exactly what I have found , surprisingly not much of a choice with handles . Not sure why that is.
    I need to sit down and make some theoretical drawing of it . 
    Handle length  ( that part of it you grip on ) shouldn't be a problem and I can make short and long one .
    If you guys come up with some handle design do let me know . Hand drawings welcomed :)

    At the moment I have hit a hard wall with scrap metal supply so I'll have some time to draw other parts i need to machine for it  .


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  • WezVWezV Frets: 16547
    Mine doesn't even have a handle, I just pull the wire through 
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  • JazzthatJazzthat Frets: 163
    It's been a long time since I had started the thread .

    Originally , I thought it won't take too long to design and make the fret bender .

    Well ... It's still not quite finished .
    I am making small changes as well as experimenting with different parts  .
    Small changes  mean adding a lot of work and sometimes the results aren't great :( .

    At the moment , the fret bender actually works as intended , though it's not totally put together at this stage  .
    There is also a chance I might  add straightening option to it , if I can .

    I will update the thread again , when I have finished it :)



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  • JazzthatJazzthat Frets: 163
    edited February 2021
    2021 UPDATE !

    Hi guys 

    I thought , I have finally finished my fret bender build .
    But , today whilst bending gold Evo wire I noticed , this wire require more pressure to be applied to achieve the same radius as for nickel silver one .
    Therefore I will need to re-machine top of the slot to allow for more radius to squeeze in .

    Anyway , it's time to share my project with you .
    Feel free to comment

    And some photos ...

    Front , rear and side view 



     


    Close up of main drive wheel 




    And on this photo , two wheels fitted for straightening .


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  • PeteCPeteC Frets: 409
    That looks like a work of art ! Fabulous 
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  • SteveRobinsonSteveRobinson Frets: 6914
    tFB Trader
    That's gorgeous. Nice touch of a Tele control knob too.
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  • TTonyTTony Frets: 27346
    That’s some beautiful engineering there!

    I’m guessing that you put the f-holes into the main wheel?  
    Having trouble posting images here?  This might help.
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  • JazzthatJazzthat Frets: 163
    Also , the bottom part can be fitted upside down and then it acts as a solid base to put it in the vice .


    And the whole front body has  perfectly machined 12" radius and obviously can be use as a reference point for those fretboards :)
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  • JazzthatJazzthat Frets: 163
    TTony said:
    That’s some beautiful engineering there!

    I’m guessing that you put the f-holes into the main wheel?  

    Yes , the f holes have been machined by me , with little help of my mate , who did software side of it .

    If I remember correctly , I got that pdf file from you , no?
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  • JazzthatJazzthat Frets: 163
    Thanks for lovely comments guys .


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